Nuggets' Andre Iguodala draws James Harden assignment Wednesday

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HOUSTON — It's been a big year for beards. For one, mine looks spectacular. Moreover, Daniel Day Lewis won the Golden Globe in his brilliantly beardy portrayal of Abe Lincoln. Avalanche defenseman Greg Zanon's could smuggle a family across the border in his shrubbery. And the Rockets' James Harden, who the Nuggets face Wednesday, makes Rick Ross look like he just has a 5 o'clock shadow.

Houston's hairy Harden is having a breakout season, averaging 25.9 points per game, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists. In the Rockets' most-recent game, he put up 29, seven and seven. He is a weapon. And he has Houston's best beard since ZZ Top came on the local scene.

"Harden is a pretty tough guy, he has a great way of drawing fouls," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We might get in foul trouble, he shot 21 free throws the other day. I'll try to put anybody on him who can make a difference."

He put Andre Iguodala on Harden in the last game, and Dre shut down Harden, even stuffing a late-in-game jumper right back in the dude's face. But Harden's game is growing. The guy has some savvy and some swagger.

"He's putting up big numbers, but he's not necessarily scoring on one individual defender," Iguodala said. "They do a good job at putting him in position in pick-and-rolls to where he's going one-on-one at bigs after the pick-and-rolls, so it's important to jump him early and not let him attack. Making them react to our pressure."

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Harden is the only NBA player who averages double-digit free-throw attempts per game (10.1). And he makes 'em. He averages 8.6 makes per game, most in the league, and his percentage is 85.3, fifth among NBA players who average at least 17 points per game.

"I take every assignment pretty much the same," Iguodala said matter-of-factly. "I'll watch film on him, see what I can learn, as far as tendencies. I just try to get guys out of their rhythm. I've gotten close to James and going against him over the last couple years, so it's fun going against him."

Indeed, the two played for Team USA, they went to rival colleges (Dre at Arizona and Harden at Arizona State) and they share the same agent, Rob Pelinka, and hang out together in LA sometimes during the summer.

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